Nicknames (3)
The training method for the Tiger King Art was simple. First, use drugs to heighten the senses and loosen the body's restraints. Then, put yourself in a state where you feel your life is in danger to maintain an artificial awakening. And that's it! Of course, simple didn't mean easy by any stretch.
As the drugs took effect, Paeng Ojin told me to spar with Hong Yeonhwa like usual while training the Iron King Heart Protection Art, so I did. Thanks to my heightened senses, I could move much more sharply than before... but the pain was amplified too, and the moment I took a hit, I nearly blacked out. The Iron King Heart Protection Art already hurt down to the bone. When that pain got multiplied several times over, I thought I was going to lose my mind.
I asked the chuckling Paeng Ojin if he'd put little Paeng Soso through this, and he said back then, since she was weak, just giving off a fierce vibe was enough to scare her straight.
...Yeah, that made sense. No way a daughter-obsessed fool like Paeng Ojin would force his precious girl through this hell.
The silver lining was that since it involved surpassing limits, it synergized well with my Martial Spirit Divine Art, so progress came surprisingly fast.
A few days of focusing on this new training passed, and even the chaotic Yongbong Branch Conference finally came to an end.
The moment we got back from the Murim Alliance, I let out a scream that could shatter eardrums.
"The Sword Dragon has appeared!!"
"Geudaeyeo... nicknames aren't something you just pick out of a hat."
Hong Yeonhwa, dressed especially prettily today, let out a deep sigh and shook her head.
The new Nine Dragons and Five Phoenixes held a ceremony like an awards show, announcing their nicknames grandly in front of martial arts dignitaries and crowds. It wasn't about rumors spreading organically—it was the opposite: they coined the nicknames first and spread the word everywhere. So, naturally, everyone dressed up a bit more formally for the occasion.
...Truth be told, Paeng Soso and I could've shown up in our usual gear since we were the ones getting the nicknames, but Hong Yeonhwa insisted on dressing appropriately so she wouldn't feel left out.
She was already gorgeous, but with light makeup on top? I couldn't stop staring. Everyone at the Murim Alliance had been the same. Thinking how she'd only had eyes for me the whole time gave me this smug rush of superiority.
Noticing my stare, Hong Yeonhwa suddenly grinned mischievously and poked my side.
"By the way, wasn't your nickname Three Powers Sword Dragon? Why drop the 'Three Powers' part? Are you embarrassed about the Three Powers Sword Art? Hm?"
She was right. The nickname I got was Three Powers Sword Dragon (Samjae Geomryong), and Paeng Soso's was Fierce Chain Blade Phoenix (Maengyeondobong). For reference, Namgung Hyeok, who lost to me, got robbed of the plain "Sword Dragon" title and ended up with Jade Face Divine Dragon instead.
Jade Face Divine Dragon was a fine nickname implying handsome looks and great talent... but surprisingly, in these parts, it was seen as a step down. Apparently because it emphasized face over martial prowess.
"Nah, nothing like that. Why would I be embarrassed after winning everything? 'Sword Dragon' just sounds cooler, that's all."
"Hehe... Come to think of it, this is your first nickname ever. When this lady got hers, I was over the moon..."
Hong Yeonhwa gazed into the distance, reminiscing as she nodded.
"Your old nickname? Oh, right—Heavenly Demon came after you became cult leader."
"Indeed. The first nickname this lady was called was Seamless Heavenly Robe."
"Damn, that's a good one. Fits you perfectly, Yeonhwa."
Seamless Heavenly Robe. It basically meant flawless perfection, but it could also imply childlike innocence. It captured Hong Yeonhwa to a T—cute and pure on the surface, but seamless and gapless when it came to martial arts.
"This lady is pretty amazing!"
She planted her hands on her hips, chin held high, chest thrust out proudly with a triumphant grin. Her attitude screamed praise me more, so I couldn't resist tickling her under the chin with my fingertips.
"Nyaah..."
Hong Yeonhwa melted into a lazy, satisfied smile like a full-bellied cat, her face looking ready to dissolve on the spot. Was it the makeup? She had this fresh vibe.
This time, I tried scratching lightly instead of just tickling.
"Nng... nn... hng..."
She started purring through her nose.
...Adorable.
I was so engrossed watching her expressions shift with my touch that I didn't notice Paeng Soso—looking even prettier than usual today—sneak up beside her. Our eyes met, and she nodded quietly, like she was claiming my turn next.
A playful urge bubbled up, so I held out my free hand to her.
"Hand!"
"Paw!......Ah."
Paeng Soso instinctively placed her hand on mine and flinched. I seized the moment, twisting my face into the sleaziest grin I could muster.
"Kekeke... 'Fierce Chain Blade Phoenix' feels wasted on you. Should we call you something else? Like... a bitch in heat, maybe."
"Eek! You pervert...! You can do whatever to my body, but you'll never tame my heart!"
"...Huh?"
I'd just meant to tease her a little, but her line flowed out so naturally. What the hell? That was straight-up reflexive. Had she been rehearsing this?
Caught off guard by her sudden roleplay, I stammered like an idiot, and only then did Paeng Soso blush and protest in a small voice.
"...Hubby Jin? If you don't play along here, it's gonna be super awkward for me..."
"I wanna, but I can't think of the next line."
"Then you say, 'Hah. Looks like you need more training. You won't stand on two legs until you call me your husband, you slut.'"
"Uh... okay... But why 'this seat'?"
"It's the setup: he looks young so you underestimate him and charge in, but he's actually an ageless demonic expert who's half-rejuvenated, and he turns the tables."
"What?"
What kind of setup was that? She'd really been plotting this roleplay for ages?
Mistaking my stunned reaction for interest, Paeng Soso lit up and rattled on excitedly.
"Anyway, after that, he half-pickles you in aphrodisiacs and paralytics for conditioning, but you build tolerance, regain your qi and sanity."
"Then, after a full day of getting railed like normal, you try to slit his throat while he's passed out from exhaustion... but you can't bring yourself to do it."
"Your body and heart are already dyed in lust, no escape."
"You fake being addicted, moaning under him... but he picks up on the subtle differences and realizes your tolerance."
"So he tells you if you want it that bad, make him crave you—and puts you through all sorts of filthy tasks. That's the setup."
She finished with sparkling eyes.
"Whaddya think? Kinda intriguing, right?"
"...Nah, this is basically me and Hong Yeonhwa mashed together, with your first time spiced up extra hot. We already do similar roleplay all the time."
I still couldn't forget how, during puppy play, I'd made her do lewd stuff and she'd humped my arm like crazy.
When I brought that up, Paeng Soso laughed awkwardly and nodded.
"Hehe... Didn't think you'd catch on so fast. But yeah, I really do wanna be called something other than Fierce Chain Blade Phoenix by you, Hubby Jin."
"Like what?"
"Well... for example..."
She took my still-outstretched hand and pressed it to her cheek, rubbing it slowly against my palm with a sly, seductive glance.
"...Yeobong?"
"......"
My brain flatlined. Words failed me. I had no clue how to describe the rush of emotion and impulse—I just stared at her face for a solid thirty seconds.
"H-Hubby Jin? Say something... Like I said, this is embarrassing if you don't—kyaa!"
I scooped up the prodding Paeng Soso and slung her over one shoulder. Then I grabbed Hong Yeonhwa—who'd been blissfully enjoying my touch—by the waist and tucked her under my arm.
"Hweh? Geudaeyeo? What's this all of a sudden? Weren't you gonna keep going?"
So absorbed in her own world, she hadn't even heard my chat with Paeng Soso and blinked in confusion.
Like a bandit kidnapping women, I hoisted them both and marched to my room. The maids stared in bewilderment, but who cared?
I grabbed the most senior-looking one.
"From now on, no one comes near my room."
"P-Pardon? Oh, got it..."
Her face turned beet red, but she cautiously asked anyway, determined to do her job.
"Um... how long will you be away? Shall I bring food?"
"Soso-ya, when did father-in-law say he'd come?"
"Oh, he said he's drinking all night with the Alliance Leader, so probably tomorrow morning or lunch?"
"That's what she said. We'll grab food from the kitchen ourselves."
Hong Yeonhwa finally clocked the situation, her face paling, but too late.
Click.
I'd just locked the door.